Losing weight is a lot more than calorie counting and doing endless amounts of exercise. Although these things help, in reality it's a little more complicated. If you're feeling stuck in a weight-loss rut there are plenty of expert tips and industry secrets to help you on your way. Whether you want to make your workouts work harder for you or find smarter ways of eating healthily, this list of 30 ways to slim down faster should help you toward your goal.
This is not a rough-around-the-edges weight loss boot camp that you will find at a discounted price on Groupon (though those have their value, too). Instead, this is a wellness retreat that teaches you how to move your body in a way that opens up attunement and respect for what it’s capable of. The movement will show you your own strength, both for the ability to move it and for the ability to commit to it. It’s an empowering experience to learn how to move your body. I promise that you will fall in love with your body when you realize just what it is capable of.
Why a top-pick? Many weight loss retreats develop their programs around a specific exercise schedule and predetermined nutritional goals. At Kripalu, participants spend more time delving into why they eat and what they can do to make healthier choices. Dieters don't go home with a specific meal plan to follow, but they have the opportunity to connect with others so that they can continue to build on the foundation that they establish at Kripalu.
What smells like an exotic vacation and can shrink your waist faster than your favorite Zumba class? You got it: coconut oil. A study of 30 men published in Pharmacology found that just two tablespoons per day reduced waist circumference by an average of 1.1 inches over the course of a month. However, the health benefits of coconut oil are still debated—coconut oil is high in saturated fat. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing; it’s in the form of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which aren’t processed in the body the same way long chain triglycerides (LCTs). A study published in International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders found that when MCTs replaced LCTs in the diets of overweight women, they were less likely to gain weight.
In the morning before breakfast and after urination, body weight and waist circumference were measured at baseline and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. At baseline and 6 and 24 months, body fat mass and lean mass (n = 424) were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR 4500A bone densitometer; Hologic); visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat (n = 165) were measured using a computed tomography (CT) scanner [39]; and blood pressure was measured by an automated device (Omron HEM907XL; Omron). RMR was assessed at baseline and 6 and 24 months using a Deltatrac II Metabolic Monitor (Datex-Ohmeda) after an overnight fast [40]. Briefly, after a 30-minute rest, a transparent plastic hood was placed over the head of the participant for another 30 minutes. Participants were required to keep still and awake during the test, and the last 20 minutes of measurements were used for the calculation of RMR [40].

Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Take a big step forward with your right leg and lower your body until your right thigh is parallel to the ground. At the bottom of the move, both of your knees should form right angles. Press your body up with your right leg. Step back with the right leg to return to the starting position. Repeat, alternating legs.

Stavrou, S., Nicolaides, N. C., Papageorgiou, I., Papadopoulou, P., Terzioglou, E., Chrousos, G. P., … Charmandari, E. (2016, July 31). The effectiveness of a stress-management intervention program in the management of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Molecular Biochemistry, 5(2), 63–70. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4996635/
Clinique La Prairie is the merging of a spa, hospital and hotel. The Clinique La Prairie Weight Management Program offers a multidisciplinary approach with the assistance of a nutritionist, dietician, personal fitness trainer, psychologist, massage therapist and aesthetician. The programs includes extensive medical and wellness services, lodging and meals, spa services, and more, in a region of unparalleled beauty. Whether in terms of weight loss or a fresh approach to diet in response to particular needs or conditions, nutrition is specific to each individual. Clinique’s medical doctors and team of dieticians treat obesity, eating disorders or dietary deficiencies with accompanying endocrinology-diabetology, psychiatry-psychology and physical education services.

If you've seen the TV show, you get the idea: Six weeks of healthy food and regular exercise is celebrated as a great start to a weight-loss journey – as well as a way prevent or reverse various diseases. Fair enough. Experts determined that the Biggest Loser Diet is very likely to help you shed pounds, thanks to calorie restriction and exercise. To reap the other benefits of weight loss, however, you have to stick with it – something that's a lot harder for average Joes than for TV stars-in-the-making.

Wondering why it's so hard to lose that muffin top? There are so many environmental and personal factors that contribute to our putting on pounds and it's not enough to enroll in the latest fad diet or jog for half an hour every day to ensure weight loss. To successfully lose weight and keep it off you have to look at everything from your nutrition and fitness to your sleep habits and stress management. This may seem like a lot but Mountain Trek program can work for you.
Held at our luxury resort in the centre of Ubud, the ARMA Health & Detox-Spa Resort has everything and more for your healing holidays. Explore the area on our walks and trips, take a dip into one of our swimming pools, or relax in our tranquil gardens. Enjoy our spa treatments and bodywork as part of your program, wander through rice paddy terraces, over bridges and around romantic lily ponds.

Dinner is similar to lunch but there are daily specials that we can choose from in addition to the set menu, followed by another thermal walk. At the end of the day, I always have a cup of my favorite cinnamon tea and then I focus on self-care, whether that's by taking a hot shower, a shopping trip, or enjoying a game night with friends. One of the best parts of coming here has been meeting all these amazing people going through the same journey I am. I didn't know anyone when I started and now I feel like I have a whole group of supportive friends.

Just because you’re trying to slim down, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo the occasional dessert splurge. There’s a simple solution to having your cake and eating it, too: Eat healthfully 80 percent of the time and reserve the remaining 20 percent of the time to cheat meals. Balance is key to sticking to your diet and dropping weight and maintaining it in the long run.

Skyterra also talks about the emotional aspects of eating, the importance of stress management, not denying the pleasures of food. You have so much interaction with amazing talents like Amber Chadwick, B.S. in Kinesiology and yoga teacher extraordinaire. Skyterra simply can't be recommended highly enough.You will learn a lot about yourself and have a great experience. All-inclusive rates are $3,500 per week in high season, single occupancy.

Canyon Ranch is a big place with people who have lots of different interests. The smaller Life Enhancement Center is where people with a specific interest, including weight loss, can find each other, learn together and support each other. In a small-group setting, you are surrounded by supportive peers and consult with our wellness professionals to plan a customized strategy to attain a healthy weight.

The K-E diet stands for Ketogenic Enteral Nutrition diet and is the work of Dr. Oliver di Pietro, from Florida. He promises to help anyone shed 20 lbs. in as little as 10 days. As part of the diet, dieters have to get a small nasogastric tube inserted into their nose going all the way to the stomach, through which a liquid solution drips constantly. The solution supposedly contains a mix of protein, fat and water and makes up 800 calories. A few hours of this and a process called ketosis is said to be triggered, which burns body fat due to the lack of carbohydrates. The fat is burned but the muscle and water in the body remain untouched. Dieters who want to achieve the best results aren't supposed to eat anything for a period of 10 days and also have to carry around the bag of nutritious fluid everywhere they go.
Eating sugary foods might be satisfying in the moment, but they can increase your cravings for more sugary foods in the future — and that only leads to trouble. "Many foods high in added sugar are also higher in calories and fill you up less than lower-calorie, still-sweet alternatives like fruit," says Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in Jersey City, NJ. But there are still ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without ODing on sugar. "When you're baking, cut out some of the sugar in recipes by adding in vanilla extract or cinnamon, blend unsweetened cocoa powder into a smoothie instead of honey, top your French toast with unsweetened frozen fruit instead of syrup, and nosh on a slab of watermelon instead of cookies."

old women with big belly

Also some research shows that the human body is primed to consume most of its calories during daylight hours. But the lifestyle is problematic for many: Because family meals and dinners with friends often are scheduled for after sunset, “people who try to stop eating after 7pm can’t do it every day for the rest of their lives,” says Dr. Seltzer, who supports an alternative strategy: Eating a hearty meal at your regular dinnertime.

For the ultimate luxury resort experience during your weight loss journey, head to any of these resorts. They are all resort spas, which offer a whole plethora of wellness programs. Guests can also enjoy massage spa treatments, nutrition guidance from medical professionals, and one-on-one fitness classes. While they are a bit out of most of our price ranges, they are still worth mentioning.

Somewhere buried the “I am Woman, hear me roar” is a self-critical overweight woman who is down on herself and disillusioned because of her negative body image, throwing up her hands not knowing what, where or how to win this almighty battle. Asking themselves, “How did I lose myself? How do I find happiness? How do I take time out for ME without feeling so guilty?”

When grabbing grub at a fast-food restaurant, the “combo” or “value meals” are typically less expensive and make you feel like you’re getting a better deal, but oftentimes they’re also nutritional nightmares. A study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing shows that compared to ordering à la carte, you pick up a hundred or more extra calories by opting for the aforementioned cheap “value meals.” That’s because, when you order items bundled together, you’re likely to buy more food than you need or want, and end up overeating as a result. To keep your weight in check, order your food piecemeal instead.

Cal-a-Vie bridges the gap between health resort and luxury spa. Its comprehensive nutritional services include consultations with a registered dietician and tests with a biochemistry focus to identify problems arising from adrenal, thyroid or hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, food sensitivities, and more. The fitness program includes more than 130 different classes for beginners to the already fit.
"When going out for fast food, I used to get the large-size value meal. Now, I satisfy a craving by ordering just one item: a small order of fries or a six-piece box of chicken nuggets. So far, I've shaved off 16 pounds in seven weeks, and I'm on track to being thinner than my high school self for my 10-year reunion later this year." —Miranda Jarrell, Birmingham, AL

Not eating enough fiber may be a major reason women are getting fatter and flabbier. To ditch the fat and show off firm, beautiful abs, you need to eat at least 25 grams of fiber daily, says leading fiber researcher David J.A. Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., professor of nutrition at the University of Toronto, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Food and Nutrition Board. Fiber, which is the indigestible part of fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods, helps you achieve flat abs for three reasons:

Lord Byron wasn’t only famous for his poems and politics, but also for popularising the vinegar diet in the 1820s. The idea is simple – drink plenty of vinegar, paired with one cup of tea and a raw egg. This combination made you vomit, causing you to lose your appetite, and weight. The legacy lives on in the claim that apple cider vinegar can make you lose weight.
Making your sandwich with two slices of bread is so last year. Aid your slim down efforts by opting for whole-grain bread over white and preparing your sandwich “open-faced” style—the fancy name for kicking the top piece of bread to the curb. Doing so keeps about 70 to 120 calories off your plate. If losing some bread leaves your tummy rumbling, beef up your meal by munching on a cup of baby carrots or sugar snap peas. These pop-in-your-mouth veggies are loaded with fiber and water, which can help aid satiety and weight loss efforts. For even more amazing weight loss tips, check out these 50 Best-Ever Weight-Loss Secrets From Skinny People.